Keep Yourself & UCSB Beautiful!

UCSB Participates in the Great American Smokeout

Did you know that all UC locations and properties became tobacco and smoke free on January 1, 2014? Housing, Dining & Auxiliary Enterprises (HDAE) played a big role in this year’s Great American Smoke Out (GASO) at UCSB on Thursday, November 17th. Our marketing and communications team designed and student-tested four engaging posters with messages relating to cigarette butt litter, second-hand smoke and asthma, money spent on tobacco, and its negative effects on endurance.

This year’s location for GASO was in the sunken areas in front of the library. Michael Takahara, Chair of UCSB’s Smoke-Free Campus Steering Committee and Student Health and Wellness Educator, displayed two jars of cigarette butts that were picked up during a 48-hour window of time prior to the event. Can you guess how many?*

Discarded butts inevitably make their way through storm drains and creeks to the beach and the ocean. Toxins collect on the filter and wash out into our waterways and the ocean. Birds and sea mammals ingest the butts, thinking that it’s food. Take care of yourself and the animal kingdom! Tobacco cessation resources are available for students, staff and faculty. Pledges to quit for one day were collected at the event by student health and wellness interns. If you want to know how your UC health plan can help you or someone else quit, go to the Tobacco Cessation Resources web page or contact Ginnie Thomas (x5520) for additional assistance.

*748 (Did you know? Littering is against the law. The fine for a first conviction is $250-$1000.)